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Advice Topic:
Buying

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Get answers from licensed real estate agents on buying, selling, loans, appraisals, contracts, and market trends.

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Buying

554 questions found

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Do neighborhoods with no sidewalks affect home values in the Midwest?

I've noticed that many newer communities don't have sidewalks. Does that matter to most buyers, or is it generally not a factor when it comes to resale?

12 Answers

How much should I worry about wildfire insurance when buying in Redding, California?

I've found a home I really like, but I've heard insurance has become more difficult to obtain in some parts of California. Should I check insurance availability before making an offer?

20 Answers

How do I negotiate for repairs after a home inspection reveals issues?

We recently went under contract on a charming older home in a competitive neighborhood. However, the inspection report came back with a few significant concerns regarding the roof and some outdated electrical wiring. We really love the house but aren't sure how to approach the seller to ask for repairs or a credit without risking the deal falling through. What are the best ways to present these requests to the seller's agent?

Asked by Filip | 07-10-2026 | 162 Views | Buying | Updated 3 months ago

18 Answers

What are the best strategies for negotiating on a home that has been sitting on the market for several months?

There is a property in a great neighborhood that has been listed for over 90 days without any price drops, which is unusual for this specific area. We suspect the seller might be overvaluing the home compared to recent comps, and we want to submit an offer that is lower than the asking price. Since the listing is getting stale, we are wondering how to frame our offer so the seller doesn't feel insulted but understands we are serious buyers looking for a fair market value.

Asked by Patricia | 07-10-2026 | 72 Views | Buying | Updated 3 months ago

14 Answers

how much do I actually have to give up to get an offer accepted here?

Okay, need a reality check from people who do this for a living.nnWe're buying in Fort Lauderdale, pre-approved, looking in the $500-600k range, and we've now been beaten on three houses in a row. Each time we came in at or near asking and still got passed over. Our agent keeps saying it's not really the price anymore, our offers "look riskier" than the competition, and sellers are taking cleaner terms even when the dollar amount is basically the same.nnSo now I'm trying to figure out how much I actually have to give up to be taken seriously without setting myself up to get burned. From what I'm gathering, sellers want a bigger earnest deposit (like 5%), a short inspection window, and the loan commitment locked in well before closing instead of dragging it to the end. The inspection part is what scares me, if I cut it to 7 days and something major turns up, am I stuck?nnWe can't keep losing homes, but I also really don't want to waive protections and eat a $20k surprise after we close.nnSo for the agents here:n1. What actually makes an offer read as "clean" to a seller beyond just the price?n2. Is a 7-day inspection genuinely enough to protect me, or am I giving up too much to look competitive?n3. Does bumping the deposit to 5% really move the needle, or do sellers care more about the contingencies?

9 Answers

I just purchased my first home and had the money sent to an escrow account

I purchased a home and we agreed to not close for another month to give the seller time to move their belongings. The deed and everything is done but the buyer is telling me they haven't received all their money yet and I think it's because they haven't moved out yet and it's not until the 15th of this month. Will they get their money then?

13 Answers

Is it worth choosing a smaller home to get a significantly shorter daily commute?

My spouse and I are debating between a spacious suburban home with a large yard and a much smaller condo that is within walking distance of our offices. We currently spend over an hour in traffic each way, and while we want more space for our hobbies, we are worried about the impact of a long commute on our quality of life. We are looking for advice on how to weigh the trade-off between square footage and time.

18 Answers

Can I hold the seller responsible for a water heater that failed the day after closing?

We just moved into our new home yesterday and woke up to a flooded utility room because the water heater tank burst. During the final walk-through, everything appeared to be in working order, but now we are wondering if the seller was aware of an ongoing issue and failed to disclose it. We are trying to figure out if there is any standard protocol for handling major appliance failures that happen so soon after the title transfer.

15 Answers

How can I verify property lines before closing if the neighbor's fence seems misplaced?

We are currently in the process of buying a home in a suburban neighborhood and noticed the neighbor’s fence sits about three feet inside what we thought was our yard based on the listing photos. The seller claims the fence has been there for over a decade, but the plot map provided by the county looks different. We want to know what professional services we should hire to ensure we aren't losing land or inheriting a boundary dispute before we sign the final papers.

14 Answers

Agent want me to pay for professional cleaning before photos

My house is clean. I scrub it myself. But my agent say I must hire industrial cleaners for $600 before he take picture. He say my house smell like spices. I think he is being mean to my culture. Is this normal or he just rude test?

16 Answers

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Advice Topic:
Buying

Ask An Agent

Buying

Do neighborhoods with no sidewalks affect home values in the Midwest?

How much should I worry about wildfire insurance when buying in Redding, California?

How do I negotiate for repairs after a home inspection reveals issues?

What are the best strategies for negotiating on a home that has been sitting on the market for several months?

how much do I actually have to give up to get an offer accepted here?

I just purchased my first home and had the money sent to an escrow account

Is it worth choosing a smaller home to get a significantly shorter daily commute?

Can I hold the seller responsible for a water heater that failed the day after closing?

How can I verify property lines before closing if the neighbor's fence seems misplaced?

Agent want me to pay for professional cleaning before photos

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Growing Your Rental Portfolio? Build These Systems First

How to Buy a Multigenerational Home That Actually Works for Your Family

Contributing Real Estate Professionals

Zoltan Peresztegi

Keith Jean Pierre

Juan Picos

Michael Atkinson

Loodmy Jacques

Kevin Neely

Amanda Courtney

Jonathan Claudio

Alla Novytska

Barrett Henry

Austin Moore

Becky Groe

Advice Topic: Buying

Ask An Agent

Buying

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Growing Your Rental Portfolio? Build These Systems First

How to Buy a Multigenerational Home That Actually Works for Your Family

Contributing Real Estate Professionals

Zoltan Peresztegi

Keith Jean Pierre

Juan Picos

Michael Atkinson

Loodmy Jacques

Kevin Neely

Amanda Courtney

Jonathan Claudio

Alla Novytska

Barrett Henry

Austin Moore

Becky Groe

Advice Topic:
Buying